GREECE: REACTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

UNCLAS ATHENS 000647

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SE, EUR/PGI, G/TIP, INL/HSTC, G, DRL, PRM, IWI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREL PREF ELAB GR
SUBJECT: GREECE: REACTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

Ref. A State 21092

SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) Following the pattern of recent years, the release of the
Human Rights Report in Greece was generally reported with
straightforward analysis of the issues. For the most part,
newspapers avoided the hyperbolic tones that are often the watermark
of Greek journalism - especially on any matter that addresses the
issue of minority rights in Greece. Following the cues from a press
briefing by PolCounselor and HROff, press attention focused on the
changes to this year's report, including implementation of Muslim
religious law (Sharia) in Thrace. References to minority rights
received a great deal of coverage and many publications referred to
the differing uses of the word "minority" by the USG and GoG. The
issue of journalistic anti-Semitism also figured largely in press
reports following the HRR release. End summary.


2. (SBU) On March 6, PolCounselor and HROff met with a select group
of Athens-based journalists to discuss the release of the 2006 Human
Rights Report (HRR). Drawing on reftel points, Polcounselor
discussed the history of the report and explained the Secretary's
desire this year to 'defend the defenders of freedom.' Post Press
Officer distributed copies of the Ten Core Principles of NGO
Protection while HROff highlighted changes in this year's report,
including the use of Sharia law in Thrace and its impact on women's
rights. HRoff also noted two recurring themes: the plight of the
Roma community in Greece and the ongoing poor state of detention
centers across the country.


3. (SBU) In press reports following the public release of the HRR,
center right Kathimerini said that the report, "in substance
criticized Greece for tolerating the use of Sharia which contravenes
basic women's rights." Virtually all reports noted the first-time
appearance of Sharia as an issue addressed in the HRR. (Note:
Deputy FM Stilianidis also mentioned it in his March 13 meeting with
EUR DAS Bryza, septel. End note.)


4. (U) References to minority rights also received a great deal of
press coverage and many publications referred to the differing uses
of the word "minority" by the USG and GoG. Several publications
commented on the fact that minorities faced problems in connection
with the right of self-identification and that they were not allowed
to use the term "Turk" or "Turkish." The Pro-PASOK daily TO VIMA
added that the USG "continues seeing minorities in Greece" and
opined that Embassy officers, including the DCM, believe the
Lausanne Treaty should not be viewed as the only Treaty regulating
minority rights in Greece. The conservative pro-ruling party (New
Democracy) Eleftheros Typos said that the U.S. "position on
minorities directly disputes the Lausanne Treaty." This position,
the paper said, was also expressed by Ambassador Bond at the OSCE
HDIM meeting in Warsaw last year. News reporters found this to be a
position that strongly annoyed the GoG. The article concluded that
diplomats in Athens saw an effort to encourage revision of the
Lausanne Treaty in the report, "causing a shiver among the
diplomatic community."


5. (U) Center-left TA NEA found that the section dealing with the
situation in prisons and detention centers was negative for Greece,
as it described conditions unfavorably. It admitted, however, that
correctional facilities suffered from overcrowding. TA NEA also
noted that the report addressed a wide array of issues, including
police abuse, minority rights, restrictions on minority
self-identification and journalistic anti-Semitism. It also
highlighted the fact that there were no allegations that press
freedoms were denied or limited in Greece.


6. (U) Pro-government daily Apogevmatini focused on complaints by
immigrant organizations regarding the difficulties they face in
attaining legal status in Greece. The paper also discussed the
self-identification issue of Turks in Thrace. Left-of-center Ethnos
saw in the report an indirect criticism of the role of the Greek
Orthodox Church, citing references to problems faced by believers in
non-Orthodox religions in Greece. Ethnos also said that the USG
damned Greece with faint praise by discussing the problems of
self-identification for some citizens, poor conditions in detention
centers, abuse and mistreatment by the police, and anti-Semitism.


7. (U) Left-of-Center Eleftherotypia's Washington-based
correspondent D.P. Dimas noted references to Sharia law and to
anti-Semitism in the Greek press as the major differences this year.
Dimas also pointed out that the HRR specifically commented on his
paper's publication of an anti-Semitic cartoon.


8. (U) Two Patras newspapers expressed satisfaction for the HRR's
reference to the problems of the Roma community in Patras, as well
as mention of the case of two Patras-based journalists convicted and
sentenced to eight months imprisonment for conducting an interview
with an Albanian migrant after his arraignment on charges of driving
a stolen car. The article concluded that Greece would continue to
be criticized as long as it has laws restricting freedom of press in
this manner.

COMMENT
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9. (SBU) In the several months preceding release of the HRR, anodyne
USG statements on the presence of ethnic minorities within Greece
have garnered widespread and sensationalist media coverage. Thus,
the manner in which this report was received is a welcome change of
tone. However, we expect the minorities issue will continue to be a
neuralgic one for the GoG.